Dimmer-switch



H. F. LAUB.

DIMMER SWITCH.

APPLmATloN FILED APR. 5. 1920.

Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

CuZ

A TTUH/VEY PATENT OFFICE.

4 HENRY FRED LAUB, OF LOGAN, 'U'.llAH.-

DINNER-SWITCH.

.Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

Application led April 5, 1920. Serial No. 371,242..

T 0 all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY F. LAUB, a citizen of the United States, residingl at Logan, county of Cache, and State of Utah, have invented a certain new and useful Dimmer- Switch, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention is a switch mechanism lfor` ow of current to the lamp, but so far as I am aware all such prior switches acted to admit the full current to the lamp, hence the resulting illumination was obtained at vfull current strength.

There are certain conditions under which it is desirable to'reduce the intensity of the illumination, such as in bed rooms and in Sick rooms, as well as in other places, but prior snapswitches have made no provision for reducmg the flow of current in the lighting circuit.

According to this invention, my snap or flush switch embodies means controllable at will for interposing a variable resistance in the lighting circuit according to a desired reduction in the intensity of the illumination aiforded by a glow lamp. v

In a. practical form of the snap switch, the

push members are connected as usual with a pivoted member. With that push member which closes the circuit for the flow of current to the lamp, I associatea rotary switch element adapted to make electrical connection with -either of a series of contacts in circuit with a resistance coil, the latter beingk so connected with the lighting circuit as to impede the flow of current in said circuit and thereby obtain a variation in the illustrnctional form` of snap switch provided' ^with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagram 4illustrating the snap switch and light circuit with my invention incorporated t erein.

Referring tothe diagrammatic illustray tion F ig. v2, A is. alighting circuit with a source of energy, such as battery a, and includmg one or more lamps `(not shown) of the incandesnt bulb type. One conductor of said circuit isattached vto a brush b and the other to a brush c', and between said brushes b, c, operates the pivotal member B of the snap switch, said pivoted member bemg posltioned for electricalengagement with the brush b. The switch member B is mounted for rocking movement on an axis d, the latter being permanently in electrical connection with a return conductor e for a resistance coil C. With said switch member 1s associated a push pin D, and apush pin E. Said push pins D, E, and pivoted member B are similar to the ordinary snap switch for interrupting the flow of current in the lighting circuit, and said switch mechanism does not require detailed explanation except to say that in one position of the member B and pin D, the circuit is closed to establish the iiow of current for the illumination of the lamp or lamps.

My invention makes provision for interposing the resistance C, in the whole or in part, in the lighting circuit A, in order to Vary the intensity of the illumination afforded by the lamp.v To this end, I employ a vplurality ofcontacts, for being shown at l, 2, 3, 4, from which lead a number of short conductors 5, 6, 7, 8 the latter running to the resistance coil C and connected at different points thereto, as shown. A further contact 9 has a connection 10 branched onto the return connection e of the resistance coil. The series of contacts l 2, 3, 4 and 9 are traversed by a yrotatable switch element F, the latter being unitary with a sleeve f which is itted loosely on push pin D, whereby the sleeve and the switch element F are adapted to turn freely on the push pin D. Said sleeve Y f is composed, preferably, of insulating material, whereas the switch elementF is of y current carrying metal. The brush c is in electrical contact with the switch element F, and the latter bridges the space between said brush c and one of the fixed contacts 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, so that the current will flow in the lighting m'rcuit when the switch device is in service.

With the pin E pushed inwardly, the switch member B makes electrical contact with brush b and-closes the lighting circuit, the current flowing being dependent upon the resistance C in the circuit. As shown in Fig. 2, the switch element F is in electrical engagement with brush c and contact 2, so that the circuit is completed for the current to low from battery ai, through brush c, switch element F, contact 2, conductor 6, a 'part of the resistance C, conductor e, axis d, switch member B, brush b, and back to the battery.

The sleeve f may be turned by hand upon the pin D for the purpose of shifting switch element F to the right to left, andthus said switch element may be moved into electrical engagement with either of the contacts 1, 2, 3, or 4 for interposing more or less of the resistance coil C in the lighting circuit, thus making provision for eiecting a variation in the flow of the current so as to correspondingly vary the intensity of the illumination aforded by the lamp. By turning the sleeve f and switch element F to the left so that the latter makes contact 9, the resistance coil C is cut out of the lighting circuit, and the current at full strength flows from battery to brush c, switch element F contact 9, conductor 10, switch member B, brush b,

back to battery.

For cuttingo" the flow of current through the llghtlng clrcuit, the push pin E is operated by pushing it inward as usual in order` to shift member B from contact with the brush b, thus interrupting the lighting circuit.

The means for cutting the resistance coil into or out of the li hting circuit and for regulating the flow o? current by the action of said resistance coil may be embodied in various constructional forms, one of which is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The operating ,parts are housed within a container G, the same being closed on all Sides for excludin dust and dirt from said operating parts'. aid container is supported or mounted by screws g on a terminal panel H, the latter being covered by a face plate I, and to this panel is attached an eX- terior casingJ, the face plate and the casing being fastened by screws z' to said panel, whereby the screws may be removed for permitting the several parts to be separated in order to obtain access readily to the operating arts.

ithin the container G are brackets z" for supporting the binding posts h, h', to which the lead wires are attached as usual. The post h carries the brush c, which is normally in electrical contact with the rotary switch element F, whereas the other binding post k is associated directly with the brush b, the latter being in the path of the member B of the snap switch. The

- form of the switch member ls hown in Fig. 1 comprises two parts B B', one of which members B rocks in a bearing 7' and is adapted for contact with brush b while the other member B rocks on a bearing j', said two members B B being assembled in operative relation and being under the con'- trol of a spring B2. To the member B is connected the push pins D E, mounted for endwise movement in a suitable manner in terminal panel H and face plate I. As shown, the sleeve f of insulating material is mounted for free rotation in the panel I -l and face plate I, said sleeve fitting loosely around push pin D and protruding suiiiciently beyond the face plate for the operator to grasp said sleeve in order to turn it as desired.

The switch element F is housed within the container, preferably below the terminal panel, and the contacts l, 2, 3, 4, 9 are attached to a switch plate K composed of insulating material and secured iixedly in position beneath the terminal panel so that said'switch contacts are in the path of the switch element F, the latter being shown as a spring adapted for good electrical contact with the fixed switch contacts.

The resistance coil C may occupy any desired position within the container G, as for example below the terminal panel, but I have shown this coil positioned within a compartment g at the back of the container.

It is thought the operation will be readily understood from the foregoing description taken in connection with 'the drawings. TheV snap switch may be used as a part of alighting system for dwellings, oiiices, etc., as well as for automobiles, and in other relations, and

said switch may be installed in walls or upon instrument boards, and in other places convenient for access thereto. The addition of the switch element and its related parts provides for the regulation of the current flow so as to obtain illumination from the maximum to a minimum of light, and at the same time the snap switch may be used in the ordinary manner for interrupting and restoring the lightingcircuit. .The parts are simple in construction, economical of manufacture, and readily accessible for inspection and repairs.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Means for controlling the illumination afforded by a lighting circuit embodying a main swltch for closing and interrupting said circuit, operating means for said main switch, a resistance, and aA switch element bridging a gap in said circuit to be' controlled by the main switch and operable for cutting more or less of said resistance in'series with the lighting circuit, said switch element being rotatable on an axis afforded by said operating means and said switch element being operable independently of the main switch.

2. Means for controlling the illumination afforded by a lighting circuit embodying a snap switch provided with a plurality of 'operating members adapted for imparting movement to -said snap switch whereby in one position the switch closes s aid circuit and in another' position the switch interrupts the circuit, a resistance. an independent switch element rotatable on an axis afforded by one of said operating members, and means in cooperative relation to the switch element and the resistance whereby said switch element is adapted to include more or less of said resistance in series with said circuit.

3. Means for controlling the illumination afforded by a lighting circuit embodying a main switch movable to a plurality of positions for closing Said circuit and for interrupting the same, a resistance in series with a plurality of contacts, and an independently1 operable switch element bridging a gap in said circuit to be controlled by the main switch and coperating with said contacts for interposing the resistance in whole or in pailit in series with the circuit.

l. Means for controlling the illumination afforded by a lighting circuit embodying a main switch operable for closing said circuit. and to interrupt the same, a resistance and a plurality of switch contacts, and a switch element positioned to bridge a gap insaid circuit to be controlled by the main switch and said switch element being shiftable at will relatively to said switch contacts for interposing the resistance in whole or in part in series with said lighting circuit.

5. Means for controlling the illumination afforded by a lighting circuit embodying a main switch operable to open and close said circuit, and additional switching means bridging a gap in said circuit and including a resistance adapted by the movement of said additional switching means to be interposed in whole or in part in Series with said lighting circuit.

6. A snap switch including a switch member and an endwise movable operating member therefor, of a sleeve rotatably fitted to said operating member, a resistance element, a plurality of switch contacts in series with said resistance element, and a switch element in fixed relation to said rotatable sleeve, said switch element being shiftable into contact with either of said switch contacts.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 16th day of March,

HENRY FRED LAUB. 

